Pet Health Questions - Some Perspectives

Whether you have a dog, cat, fish or rabbit, there are a number of pet health questions that are frequently asked. Everything from reproductive questions to pet health care questions are asked. To help you out with some questions you may have of your own, here are 6 frequently asked groups of pet health questions.

1. When should a puppy or kitten begin vaccinations? And how regularly are vaccinations required?

While the answer to these common pet care questions vary, the general rule of thumb is that pet vaccinations should commence at or around 8 weeks of age. It is commonly thought that further vaccinations should be given 4 months apart from each other, meaning puppies receive vaccinations at 8 months, 12 months and 16 months, while kittens receive them at 8 months and 12 months. However, although many vets would still have you believe that annual vaccinations are necessary, all veterinary protocols now indicate that they are not. Many experts believe that no vaccinations are required beyond 12 months of age. Others feel boosters may be necessary every 3 to 5 years

2. What are heartworms? Is it necessary to give preventative heartworm treatment?

Heartworms are parasites that live in your pet's heart. This is an extremely important pet health question to pay attention to because heartworms can become lethal to your pet. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes, so in the Northern Hemisphere heartworm is certainly more prevalent during June to November. Heartworm prevention treatment is essential. Heartworm is considerably more common in dogs, but can and does occur in cats as well.

3. Are rabies vaccinations needed? Are rabies vaccinations mandatory?

Because of the serious affect rabies has on pets, it is vital that you give your dog the proper pet care, and vaccination for rabies is one such measure you can take. Rabies affects all mammals and the argument for inoculating your pet is that there is always the potential of a bat or other form of animal with rabies getting inside your house. But really, how likely is that in a city or suburban area? On the other hand, the arguments for and against rabies vaccinations can become moot in areas where the shots are mandatory. Check your local laws before deciding against vaccinating your pet against rabies. You could be breaking the law by not doing so.

4. How long does pregnancy last in a dog or cat? Is veterinary assisted labor and birth necessary?

This is a common pet health care concern because all species go through a reproductive cycle. The timeframe that a dog is pregnant for is 63 days and cats are pregnant for 61 days. Although pet owners who are experienced in overseeing dogs and cats give birth may not need the assistance of a veterinarian for the actual labor and birth, as soon as the puppies or kittens are born, they should be examined by a veterinarian within 24 hours.

5. How soon can a dog or cat be spayed after giving birth? Is spaying necessary?

If your dog or cat has experienced an unwanted pregnancy, you should be very concerned to ensure that it does not happen again. There are far too many unwanted puppies and kittens in this world. Generally you want to wait to spay your dog or cat until the puppies or kittens are weaned the mother's milk has dried up. As soon as these two phases have occurred, you can spay your pet.

6. Is it normal for a cat to vomit hairballs? What can you do to prevent hairballs from forming?

Certainly it is common for cats to groom themselves and ingest a large amount of fur while doing so. However, if your cat is vomiting hairballs, this means that the hair is not moving from the stomach to the small intestines. The proper pet care for his problem is to give your cat pastes, treats or food that is made to help dissolve the hairballs.

If you're a pet owner, you probably have an array of pet health questions on your mind. Although there are hundreds of common questions pet owners have, these are a few of the most frequently asked pet health questions.

Worms That Can Threaten Your Dog's Health

The dog is a very active and a curious animal. This often digs around trash and comes into contact with other animals. Though this may seem fun, people do not notice that this can lead to problems in the health of the pet.

Worms are considered to be internal parasites. Some people will notice this immediately when the dog excretes this in the stool. However, this isn't always the case. There are some that can only be seen using a microscope once a blood sample has been taken.

Once these parasites have entered the dog's digestive system, the chances of survival are very slim. The only thing the owner can do is offer liquids and some medicine which will hopefully strengthen the pet's immune system and hopefully kill the worms.

Worms have been classified into 5 types.

The first is called the hookworm. The dog can get this by walking in the garden and once these are on the foot of the pet, these will slowly move inside and multiply causing much havoc in the digestive system.

These usually grow from 12 to 15 and suck on the blood. The dog can die even before this come out in the feces which is why puppies during this stage in life should be regularly brought to the vet.

The person should be aware that this isn't only contagious to dogs but to humans as well.

The second is called a tapeworm. People will not mistake seeing this since this type of worms is long and usually live in the intestine of the animal. These can also be found in the anus and comes with fleas that suck on the blood of the animal. This can be killed using prescribed medication since ordinary vaccination does not work.

The third type is called the roundworm. These look like spaghetti noodles when it comes out of the feces of the dog. Though some may come out, there are still some inside and can multiply some more if proper treatment isn't administered. The only way to fight this is also using prescribed medication.

The fourth type is called a whipworm. The parasite is called this way because these appear to be a combination of both the tape and the round worm. These are usually found in the colon area and have an incubation of three months before coming out.

The fifth type is the heartworm. These usually stay near the heart and only a blood sample can reveal its existence. It is better to prevent this from happening since most pups that are infected die from this disease.

The best protection against these parasites will be to bring the dog to the vet and having vaccinations done. The person can also try getting some disinfecting pills. These can be purchased without a medical prescription and should be used using the proper dosage.

At home, the person can start by making sure the dog house or bedding is clean at all times. The pet should also be given a bath once a week and tied to a leash to prevent this animal from digging in the yard or eating from the trash since this is where germs and other contaminants grow.

When a dog is struck by worms, the immune system may either fight or give up. A lot of dogs will die while those that do survive will have some side effects that will affect the dog health for the remainder of its life.